Our universe was born billions of years ago in a hot, violent explosion of elementary particles and radiationæthe big bang. What do we know about this ultimate moment of creation, and how do we know it? A marvelous introduction to scientific cosmology, The Big Bang, 3/e draws upon the latest theories and technology to provide a sweeping, lucid account of the event that set the universe in motion.

The Density of the Universe The Temperature of the Big Bang The Physics of Creation In the Beginning Inflation The Legacy of Inflation Strings The Particle Zoo Gravitons Probing the Nature of Relics from the Big Bang Mini-Black Holes

The Case of the Elusive Neutrinos Characteristics of the Background Radiation Density of Matter and Radiation Radiation Temperature Scattering Primordial Chaos? The End of the Radiation Era Cooling of Matter

9 Origin of the Galaxies

The Conservative Approach The Revolutionary Approach A Cosmic Filter The Dominance of Cold Dark Matter

10 Evolution of the Galaxies

Merging Collapse of a Protogalactic Cloud Rotation Formation of Protogalaxies Aggregation of Protogalactic Clouds Formation of Galaxies and Galaxy Clusters The Luminosity Function Formation of the Stars Elliptical and Spiral Galaxies Archeology of the Milky Way Mergers and Infall Cosmic Star Formation History Galaxy Gobbling

Radio Emission and Radio Galaxies Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources Gravitational Lenses Theories of Quasars and Radio Galaxies

14 Formation of the Stars

Birth and Death of Stars The First Stars Current Star Formation Molecular Clouds Stellar Mass Distribution

15 The Morphology of Galaxies

Rotation and Density Waves The Role of Magnetic Fields Elliptical Galaxies and Globular Clusters Colors of Galaxies Morphology and Galaxy Formation

16 Origin of the Heavy Elements

Nuclear Evolution of Stars White Dwarfs Neutron stars Black Holes Explosive Nucleosynthesis Elemental Abundances Supernovae and the Solar System Formation of the Earth and Life Catastrophic Evolution Life in the Universe

17 Into the Infinite Future

Mass Density of the Universe Curvature of Space Galaxies as Cosmological Probes Acceleration of the Universe The Curvature of the Universe Quasars as Cosmological Probes Deuterium and Mass Density The Hubble Expansion The Future of Open and Closed Universes

Our universe was born billions of years ago in a hot, violent explosion of elementary particles and radiationæthe big bang. What do we know about this ultimate moment of creation, and how do we know it? A marvelous introduction to scientific cosmology, The Big Bang, 3/e draws upon the latest theories and technology to provide a sweeping, lucid account of the event that set the universe in motion.

The Density of the Universe The Temperature of the Big Bang The Physics of Creation In the Beginning Inflation The Legacy of Inflation Strings The Particle Zoo Gravitons Probing the Nature of Relics from the Big Bang Mini-Black Holes

The Case of the Elusive Neutrinos Characteristics of the Background Radiation Density of Matter and Radiation Radiation Temperature Scattering Primordial Chaos? The End of the Radiation Era Cooling of Matter

9 Origin of the Galaxies

The Conservative Approach The Revolutionary Approach A Cosmic Filter The Dominance of Cold Dark Matter

10 Evolution of the Galaxies

Merging Collapse of a Protogalactic Cloud Rotation Formation of Protogalaxies Aggregation of Protogalactic Clouds Formation of Galaxies and Galaxy Clusters The Luminosity Function Formation of the Stars Elliptical and Spiral Galaxies Archeology of the Milky Way Mergers and Infall Cosmic Star Formation History Galaxy Gobbling

Radio Emission and Radio Galaxies Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources Gravitational Lenses Theories of Quasars and Radio Galaxies

14 Formation of the Stars

Birth and Death of Stars The First Stars Current Star Formation Molecular Clouds Stellar Mass Distribution

15 The Morphology of Galaxies

Rotation and Density Waves The Role of Magnetic Fields Elliptical Galaxies and Globular Clusters Colors of Galaxies Morphology and Galaxy Formation

16 Origin of the Heavy Elements

Nuclear Evolution of Stars White Dwarfs Neutron stars Black Holes Explosive Nucleosynthesis Elemental Abundances Supernovae and the Solar System Formation of the Earth and Life Catastrophic Evolution Life in the Universe

17 Into the Infinite Future

Mass Density of the Universe Curvature of Space Galaxies as Cosmological Probes Acceleration of the Universe The Curvature of the Universe Quasars as Cosmological Probes Deuterium and Mass Density The Hubble Expansion The Future of Open and Closed Universes